Latest news with #Vaalweekblad
The Citizen
12-08-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Watch: Vanderbijlpark teen plays guitar 10 days after breaking neck in rugby match
Barely 10 days after breaking his neck in a rugby match, 17-year-old Francois Kruger from Vanderbijlpark is on his feet and playing guitar. On August 2, Francois broke his neck in a tackle during a third-team match for Hoërskool Transvalia against Hoërskool Nelspruit. According to Prof Adrian Kelly, the specialist who handled his emergency surgery, it's a miracle that Francois is alive and walking after the freak accident. Francois has recovered speedily. Initially, he had only 30% use of his right arm, but now he's strumming his guitar as if nothing happened. According to his parents, Carel and Liana, they won't know the way forward for another six weeks. 'He will undergo another MRI scan, after which the doctor will explain the path ahead. Next week, he'll start sleeping in a soft neck brace,' Liana told Vaalweekblad. Watch as he plays the guitar:
The Citizen
08-08-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Sucking the life out of Deneysville residents
Sucking the life out of Deneysville residents DENEYSVILLE – Following an article published in the Vaalweekblad June 20-26th, private vendors who were sucking French drains in Deneysville, were prohibited from doing so for June while council actioned new tariffs for sucking and dumping effluent at the revamped municipal plant in Refengkgotso. The moratorium aimed to formalise the licensing of legitimate vendors, practices and procedures. However, just the opposite occurred. According to residents a backlash of alleged bribery was recorded in a media release by councillor Lucas Fisher. Furthermore, 'approved service providers' were allegedly lured into double deals with 'rogue vendors'. The vendors allegedly 'hijacked' community contracts; intercepted council-approved, service providers' trucks, and bought off contracts. This meant that the needy households and businesses who welcomed a reduction in tariffs ended up being blocked from taking up the council's offer! Dr Diao Ramabitsa, head of the Metsimaholo Technical Department, reacted to this by attempting to formalise temporary licences towards the end of June. 'Interested businesses must approach the municipal offices in Deneysville for assistance and payment arrangements,' says Ramabitsa. In the meantime, the council-approved, private service provider, who was supposed to operate exclusively at the Refengkgotso sewer plant, allegedly rented out his vehicle during June for R714 at a time to at least one unauthorised vendor. This left the unsuspecting homeowners paying exorbitant amounts for sewer suction based on their earlier contracts with illegal vendors, while that vendor paid the council directly and signed off on the loads sucked. 'The residents have access to municipal-approved rates for removal of septic tanks, and they should be mindful of what other businesses are charging following the huge reduction of tariffs for residential septic tank removals, says Ramabitsa. 'We decided to allow any business to operate as long as they pay for dumping the sewage at our infrastructure.'
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
2 Evaton cops and civilian charged in constable's murder
Two police constables appeared in the Sebokeng Magistrate's Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Constable Gift Mokoena, who was fatally shot in May 2021. Vaalweekblad reports that Constables Piet Matsoso (38) and Siyabonga Kunene (31), both stationed at Evaton Police Station in Gauteng, and their friend Hofney Morobe (36), face multiple charges, including murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating the ends of justice, and handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. According to information provided by the National Prosecuting Authority, the incident occurred on the night of May 16, 2021, in the Golden Gardens area. Matsoso and Kunene were off duty and driving with Morobe when they pursued a vehicle suspected of involvement in a house robbery. The vehicle stopped at a BP petrol station, where the accused allegedly assaulted the four occupants. During the altercation, a cellphone and car keys were reportedly taken from one of the victims. The trio then allegedly drove the victims around before handing them over to members of the CPF. While the victims were in the custody of the CPF, Morobe and Mokoena, who had by then joined the group, allegedly continued the assault. In the course of events, Morobe allegedly fetched Matsoso's service firearm from a vehicle and shot Mokoena. The wounded officer was taken to Nkanyezi Private Hospital in Sebokeng, where he died. The accused surrendered to police on June 30. During their bail application, the state did not oppose release, citing their co-operation and the fact that witnesses are unknown to them. Bail was granted at R1 000 each. The matter was postponed to September 4 for a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- The Citizen
2 Gauteng cops fired after kidnapping and extortion arrests
Two SAPS members have been dismissed following their arrest in connection with kidnapping and extortion, in a case that has sent shockwaves through Gauteng. Vaalweekblad reports that Constables Thabiso Pule Paul Molefe (32) and Paseka Matena (33), both members of the SAPS Highway Patrol Unit, were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) earlier this year in connection with a case opened in Springs. The two officers were found guilty following internal disciplinary hearings conducted under the SAPS Discipline Regulations of 2016. Both have been sanctioned with dismissal, pending final confirmation by the provincial commissioner. Public reaction to the arrests and dismissals has been swift. Ian Cameron, DA Member of Parliament and well-known policing accountability advocate, took to social media to praise the outcome. 'Some good news: dirty cops out,' he wrote, highlighting this as a meaningful example of consequence management in the SAPS. 'The public demands accountability, and this is a step in the right direction. We need a police service that earns the trust of law-abiding South Africans.' Molefe, who is reportedly the son of a former high-ranking police official, and his co-accused Matena, were allegedly involved in a scheme where they kidnapped victims and extorted money from them under the guise of official police operations. Their arrest and dismissal are being hailed as a success for IPID and an important signal that misconduct within SAPS will not be tolerated. The case also underscores growing calls for transparency and reform in the police service. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Empathy Walk: Come walk with us in your blue shirt
Empathy Walk: Come walk with us in your blue shirt VANDERBIJLPARK – All residents are invited to support Vaalweekblad's Empathy Walk. Apart from the fact that it is free, and you and the whole family are thereby supporting a good cause, it will be a wonderful morning in nature. Vaalweekblad's Empathy Walk will take place on June 7 at the Emerald Resort and Casino's game reserve. Participation is free, but clothing donations (everything from shirts to shoes) and non-perishable food will be appreciated. The walk is held in conjunction with the weekly Parkrun that is offered at the venue. It starts at 07:00 for 07:30, and participants who specifically want to support the Empathy Walk are asked to wear blue shirts. So, bring your whole family and enjoy the morning together. Everything received on the day will be donated to the needy in our local community. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
